FEATURED ARTICLES ABOUT NEW SEASON - PAGE 2

Victory Gardens Theater has announced its 2012-13 season, the first under new artistic director Chay Yew and featuring several directors making their debuts at this long-standing Chicago company. The 2012-13 begins with the Chicago premiere of "Equivocation" by Bill Cain, a Shakespeare-themed comedy set in 1605. It will be directed by Sean Graney. That's followed in November by the world premiere of a new work from the young Chicago playwright Philip Dawkins ("The Homosexuals")

The Black Ensemble Theatre has announced its 2013 season. The reprise-heavy slate, titled "Treasures and Tributes," will feature restaging of some of the musical company's most popular hits of the last two decades, including "Doo Wop Shop" (opening Feb. 10), "Howlin' at the Moon (The Story of Howlin' Wolf)" (opening July 28, starring Rick Stone once again) and "Chicago's Golden Soul" (opening Oct. 20). The one new show of 2013 will be "It's All-Right to Have a Good Time: The Story of Curtis Mayfield.

The Sports Xchange NCAAF Team Report - Northwestern - INSIDE SLANT Pat Fitzgerald has a simple motto for season openers: expect the unexpected. With a young team entering a hostile environment in Syracuse's Carrier Dome, Fitzgerald's words carry much truth. The biggest questions surrounding the Wildcats involve whether the defense can improve off tremendous struggles in 2011. Northwestern surrendered more than 30 points on seven occasions. Only once was that a win last season.

As I was watching the Bears-Packers game Sunday, I noticed something strange happening to the corners of my mouth. They started to move upward. I've heard of this before; it's a smile isn't it? I sure do like it.

(Reuters) - The Seattle Seahawks open the defense of their Super Bowl crown and kick off the 2014-15 season at home against the Green Bay Packers, the National Football League (NFL) announced on Wednesday. The September 4 league opener will mark the Packers' first visit back to CenturyLink Field since the infamous 'Fail Mary' game in 2012 when replacement officials bungled a touchdown call in the endzone that led to an unlikely Seattle win. "Kickoff Weekend" will also feature a Monday Night doubleheader with the Detroit Lions hosting the New York Giants and the San Diego Chargers traveling to Arizona to face the Cardinals.

It looks like HBO 's political comedy " Veep " might need a new name. As Selina Meyer, the titular vice president played by Julia Louis-Dreyfus , gears up to run for president, she meets up with a new campaign consultant (Diedrich Bader) who tells her she may have to narrow her ranks a little. "And then what, I fire everyone?" asks Meyer. "Now what am I supposed to do?" The new trailer takes a jab at just about everyone in the show from Armando Iannucci, and teases at her future presidential campaign.

A questionable loose ball foul in a basketball sectional semifinal provided a bitter end to a season during which Maine South was 28-4, the second-most wins and fourth-fewest losses in program history. The call allowed Niles North to slip past the Hawks 45-44, but it wasn't the most disappointing part. "What people didn't understand is the toughest thing about the loss was I won't ever have the opportunity to work with those kids again," Maine South coach Tony Lavorato said. "Kids are resilient.

By Simon Evans MIAMI, Oct 30 (Reuters) - With shiny new rings on their fingers, the Miami Heat began their NBA title defence in confident fashion with a 120-107 win over Eastern Conference rivals the Boston Celtics on Tuesday. Miami were presented with championship rings before the game to mark their second NBA title and the first since the creation of the 'Big Three' with the arrival of Lebron James and Chris Bosh to team up with Dwyane Wade. Ray Allen made his Miami debut against his old team and put aside any concerns about his fitness with 19 points as the home crowd taunted the Celtics with chants of "We got Ray!"

Off Broadway's New Group has lined up a slew of stars for its 20th season, setting a 2014-15 slate that includes acting stints from Holly Hunter , Bill Pullman , Jesse Eisenberg and Dianne Wiest as well as a directing gig for Cynthia Nixon. The New Group has long drawn Hollywood talent to its Off Broadway stages, with a list of alums that includes Ed Harris, Michelle Williams, Ethan Hawke, Jennifer Jason Leigh and Matthew Broderick. For its upcoming season the company has tapped Hunter and Pullman to topline a fall revival of David Rabe's 1971 play "Sticks and Bones," about a family thrown into upheaval when their son returns from fighting in the Vietnam War. New Group a.d. Scott Elliott directs.